I’m sure you will Tim, it’s just the matter of time.
Really, those few feet from below your kayak to the “destination lap” spot is the most challenging part with them.
I put a lot of thought into making sure I’m ready before I landed my first halibut on the kayak. Lot of it was following the tips from folks that have put more than a few brown flats through their hands... I’ve been following that routine ever since, and have not yet lost the one I brought to color.
Here’s the “halibut at color” checklist I follow - I hope some may find it handy:
- Make sure your drag is not tight. If the things go wrong, you want to make sure they can have a smooth and controlled run if/when they freak out… Ask Moyer if you don’t believe me.
- Have your game clip ready – open and secured to your kayak with a rope, ready to be deployed.
- Don’t panic when you see them below! Keep control, keep the line tight with no slack…
- Don’t get their head out of the water – let them hang and linger by the boat. They’re usually pretty calm. If they decide to make another run down, let them.
- Take your time and identify their lower jaw. Their belly is right below their head on that side.
- Gaff ‘em though the belly. It’s their softest spot yet strong enough to be lifted on board by your gaff. More importantly, in my experience, 9 out of 10 times they won’t freak out when you gaff them thought the belly. They stay calm… like a lamb.
It almost stuns them. Attempting to gaff them though the thick meat on their shoulder is very likely to cause them to start thrashing. On a bigger halibut, it is likely you won’t run a gaff though them – they’ll freak out and probably yank your gaff out of your hand (been there). Don’t gaff them in the head – it is their most boney part. It is hard to pierce though, your head gaff attempt is likely to be followed by a freak out…
- As you run the gaff through the belly, keep the fish in the water, don’t lift her up… Reach for your game clip and run it through the gills.
- Secure it. The game is over, destination dinner table is almost certain now.
- Unlock your spool. The fish is on a leash, all is good. It may save your rod.
- At that point, I cut their gills to bleed them. Some people smack them over their head; that works too, but I haven’t been doing it. You ought to do something, as they may stay alive for a while…
- Be ready for a post mortem freak out - they frequently do that. Move and secure your reels and anything else they may kick in the water if/when they start flopping on your deck.
- I’ll leave it up to you to choose to turn them so you have their toothy jaw between your legs or their mighty tail while you’re paddling back… I hate this part.
The only other part with halibut that I find to be ugly – keep an eye on Anisakis Simplex when you’re filleting them…
A small worms in their guts/belly that can also be found in lil’ pockets of their meat in the belly area, especially on their bottom part (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisakis ). I find them almost as often as not - sometimes you need to look harder.
To be on a safe side, I generously cut out and throw away the fillet in the belly area.
I tried and I know it's good, but I don't eat raw halibut. No thanks.